Danish fakes religious identity to trap Hindu woman, persuades her to wear a 'mangalsutra' and establishes a physical relationship, assaults her when she discovers his true identity
Sahibabad, Uttar Pradesh, India 
11 September, 2024
Case Summary
A 38-year-old Muslim man named Danish, who deceived a Dalit Hindu woman by posing as ‘Dev,’ was arrested by Sahibabad police for fraudulently marrying and raping her. The victim met Danish while applying for a driving license. He introduced himself as Dev and convinced her to enter a relationship. In April of the previous year, he persuaded her to wear a 'mangalsutra' and established a physical relationship during a visit to a hotel in Sahibabad. The woman later moved in with him at a rented house in Dasna, where she became pregnant. Unbeknownst to her, Danish administered an abortion pill, and she only discovered his true identity after her pregnancy was terminated. Shocked, the victim confronted Danish at his home in July, where she was assaulted by his family members. Afterwards, the victim filed a Zero FIR at Kapurpur police station, which was transferred to Sahibabad police station. A formal case was registered on September 12. The police investigation confirmed the presence of Danish and the victim at the Sahibabad hotel, corroborating her complaint. Danish was charged under various sections of the SC/ST Act, including sections 115(2), 123(2), 318(4), 64, and 3(2)5, and was sent to jail.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the hate tracker under the prime category- Hate crimes against women in relationships and sexual crimes. Further, one sub-category has been chosen within the above-mentioned category, that is- Man pretends to be Hindu, within which two tertiary categories, namely, 'name changed' and 'married as per Hindu rituals' have also been selected as per case details. When a non-Hindu man pretends to be a Hindu to deceive a Hindu woman into a relationship, the act is seen as triggered by malafide intentions. In some cases, the woman eventually accepts the man’s original religious identity and converts after the man’s identity is revealed. These cases could be argued as cases of religious brainwashing and a result of the pressure a woman feels after getting into a relationship with a man. The woman, it can be argued, also changed her religious identity because of the stigma she believes she might face if she chooses to walk out of a deceptive relationship. However, for the purpose of documenting hate crimes, the cases in this subcategory are limited to those where there is explicit violence aimed at religious conversion against the wishes of the victim (force-feeding beef, blackmailing with intimate videos, rape on refusal to convert, etc), or if the woman herself complains of the man’s religious deception. In such cases, it is established that the deception of the non-Hindu man had a specific aim of religious conversion or targeting of the victim due to her Hindu religious identity, therefore, making it a religiously motivated hate crime. By pretending to be Hindu and using the mangalsutra, a sacred Hindu symbol of marriage, Danish exploited religious customs to gain the victim's trust and manipulate her into a relationship. His deceit was a calculated attempt to manipulate her emotionally and physically, rooted in exploiting her faith and cultural beliefs. When his true Muslim identity was revealed, his reaction—assaulting her—exemplifies the malice and control he exercised, not only over her emotions but also over her religious identity. This act of betrayal, framed around the abuse of religious symbols and traditions, highlights the deep-seated animosity behind his actions. The deliberate use of Hindu customs to facilitate deceit and the violent aftermath of his unmasking make this a clear case of a religiously motivated hate crime, designed to exploit and degrade the victim based on her faith.
Victim Details
Total Victim
1
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 0
- Female 1
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 0
Caste
- SC/ST 1
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 0
Age Group
- Minor 0
- Adult 1
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
